Caste Census Revealed the Gap between SC/ST’s Share in Population and in Employment

CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), in the thrd week of January 2011, undertook a caste census of its members spread across 22 states and Union territories of India. The census covered its 8250 member companies across the country, at which 35 lakh people are employed. The caste census carried out by CII revealed that the corporate employment for SC/STs (Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes) was not proportionate to their population.

The CII survey in Chandigarh, Punjab and Rajasthan showed that SC/ST job proportion is 25 to 50 percent lower than their strength in the total population. In Maharashtra, SC/ST constitute 19.1 percent of the state population. However, their job share in the private sector of the state is meager 5 percent. The same situation exists in other Indian states like Gujarat and Karnataka where the job share of SC/ST is 9 percent only despite their population strength in these states are 22 and 23 percent respectively. Tamil Nadu is an exception where SC/ST accounted for 18 percent of the jobs in Industrial sector and 20 percent of the population in state. Tamil Nadu had ranked number one in industrialisation and employment.

The caste census data, collected by CII however, revealed that the companies in the least industrialized region like Bihar and Chhattisgarh have the highest percentage of SC/ST employees.CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) is India’s largest industry chamber.

Corporate sector in India is under pressure from the government of India to give reservation to SC/STs and the caste census undertaken by CII is in response to this.